How do I tell Brook trout and brown trout apart?

Comparison

Brook trout vs brown trout: how to tell them apart

How to tell Brook trout from brown trout, with features, size, habitat and baits side by side.

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Brook trout, side view — Brook trout *Salvelinus fontinalis*

brown trout, side view — brown trout *Salmo trutta fario*

The quick difference

Brook trout: Looks like the brown trout, but has pelvic fins edged in white and black and a marbled back. Hybrids of the two species are called tiger trout.

Side by side

How to recognise it

Brook trout

Olive-brown marbled back, the dorsal fin is patterned too
Red-orange pelvic fins with a white and a narrow black edge
Red spots with a bluish ring on the flanks, small adipose fin

brown trout

Red spots with a pale ring, plus black spots
Olive-brown back, white-yellow belly
Small adipose fin between the dorsal and tail fins

Size and age

Brook troutup to 86 cm · 8.0 kg · 24 years

brown troutup to 140 cm · 50.0 kg · 38 years

Habitat

Brook troutCold, oxygen-rich streams, rivers and lakes, including mountain lakes. It hardly needs any cover and tolerates more acidic water than the brown trout; it is not native to Europe.

brown troutFast-flowing, cool, clear and oxygen-rich streams and rivers with a gravel or sandy bed. It is very loyal to its spot and defends its own territory.

Spawning

Brook troutLate summer to autumn (general guide, varies by region)

brown troutOctober to January (general guide, varies by region)

Methods

Brook troutFly fishing, Lure fishing with a light rod, Float fishing

brown troutFly fishing, Lure fishing with a light rod, Float fishing

Baits

Brook troutInline spinner, Nymph, Dry fly, Lobworm

brown troutDry fly, Wet fly, Inline spinner, Spoon

On the table

Brook troutFine, tender flesh, often preferred to rainbow trout.

brown troutAn excellent food fish with a delicate flavour.

Conservation status

Brook troutGerman Red List (freshwater fish 2023): not assessed, as it is a non-native species. IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2021).

brown troutGerman Red List (freshwater fish 2023, species Salmo trutta): threatened, in 2009 still not threatened. IUCN (Salmo trutta): not threatened (Least Concern, 2022).

Sources (7)

Last checked 2026-10-23. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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